The Lies Between Us (The Devil's Dust #4)

“All right, I get it she’s yours.” He laughs. I stare off, not liking the fact that I’m more than intrigued by Cherry. “Where did you find her?” he continues. I glance over to where Cherry is standing and find Bull behind the bar, smoking and talking to Cherry. Bull grins and glances at me. I swallow hard and look back at the cooler.

“Her car was broken down. I stopped to help her and the little shit stole my wallet.” I laugh at the last part, remembering her ass taking it.

“No shit?” Bobby laughs. I nod and grab two beers from the melting ice. “I like her already.”

“Yeah, she’s hard not to like,” I mumble, mostly to myself. I choke the neck of the beer bottle, thinking about how much I really do like Cherry. I don’t want to like her, though, because I don’t want to feel jealous when another guy looks at her; I hardly know her. A piece of me hopes she has flaws as big as some of these other girls who throw themselves at me. It would help get myself in check, and my dick. I’m not the relationship type; it’s in my blood to be terrible at caring for another person. As my father used to say, “Phillip DeLuca, you are a prodigy of my blood. A powerful DeLuca doesn’t have a woman by his side. He has many.”

“Well, you enjoy that. I’m going to go find some ass to tap.” Bobby chuckles. I nod at him and head back over to Cherry. Getting closer, I see a guy who hangs around the club occasionally leaning against the bar, talking to her. My jaw clenches.

He reaches forward and grabs her waist, and Cherry’s body tenses with fear. Her eyes are wide, her face stoic. I double my step and toss the beers on the bar. Grabbing the guy by the wrist, I snatch if off her.

“She’s not available,” I snap, my brows drawn together, the wrath of hate bursting through my limbs to unleash on this fucker. Cherry’s head lifts, staring at me in disbelief.

“Dude, I saw her over here by herself, and she ain’t got a property patch on. She looked like free pussy.” He gives Cherry a salacious grin and she scoots closer to me, her hands fisting my shirt in unease. I step forward, my left hand pushing Cherry behind me. Guys around here can get territorial over unclaimed women. “I saw her first, cock-block!” the guy hollers.

I grit my teeth and lower my head. I’m about to put this punk in his place but Bull suddenly steps between us, blocking me.

“Okay, why don’t we all just calm down,” Bull advises. My nostrils flare with anger; I don’t need Bull handling my affairs. The guy rubs at his chin, eyeing Bull before walking away. Bull lifts his brow in a gesture that I need to turn away and leave. I bite my lip ring and give him an understanding nod, even if I don’t agree with his order. I’m a prospect, so I don’t get to argue or dictate his ruling. Not yet anyway.

I turn my back and lower my mouth to Cherry’s ear. “You all right?”

She nods and runs her hands up and down her arms. She’s uncomfortable. I shouldn’t have left her; I knew better.

“How about we take these beers to my room?” She bites her bottom lip, unsure. I spread my feet apart and lower myself to her eye level. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. It’s just quieter in there,” I explain. She purses her lips as if she’s thinking about it.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She shakes her head, avoiding eye contact. I grab her chin, forcing her to look me in the eyes, and her body nearly sways into me. Her lips part, and her body shivers beneath my hold. She’s affected by me, and her body reacting to my simplest touch is a turn-on like I’ve never experienced before. I feel like a preteen touching his first female, ready to blow my load in my jeans.

“Look at me, Cherry. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you,” I reaffirm. She blinks her eyes rapidly, as if she’s trying to blink away the sexual spell I put her under.

“Then you’ll take me back to my car?” She glances up at me from under her thick lashes and my dick jumps. She looks so vulnerable, so innocent, and the best part is she’s not even trying.

“Yeah.” I chuckle.

“All right,” she finally responds, her lips curling into a small smile. I smirk and take her by the hip. We weave through the crowd and head to the back of the hall where my room is. I was just appointed it a few days ago from Bull himself. I have a place about fifteen minutes from here, but having a room at the club is way more convenient at times.

I open the door and turn the light on, and she instantly starts looking around the room. The walls are layered with porn stars and models. Most of them were plastered on the walls before, but I might have added to the collection.

“Shit, I forgot the beer,” I mutter, turning to leave, but then I stop. I place my arm above the doorframe and rest my forehead on my forearm. “You’re not going to try and run off or anything, are you?”

She smiles and sits down on the bed. “No, not yet.”

“Okay, good.”

I shut the door behind me and head back into the noisy-ass club to grab our beers. As soon as I spot them on the bar, Bull sits down on one of the stools.

“You better get your ass in check, boy,” Bull informs, a cigarette between his lips. He squints as the smoke trails into his face.